(22 Apr 2011) SHOTLIST
Benghazi
1. US Senator John McCain enters room
2. Cameraman cutaway
3. SOUNDBITE: (English) John McCain, US Senator:
"I think if we can make the case to the American people of what is happening here. I was just at a hospital and a boatload of wounded came from Misrata. There are young people dying in that hospital right now as we speak fighting for freedom. So I think we have to show the American people that it is something that is in our interest and then I think that their patience will be pretty long but that does not mean sending American troops on the ground. Americans are war weary, they would not agree with such a thing and neither would I."
Ajdabiya
4. Rebel soldiers praying beside gun truck
5. Rebel flag
6. Low angle shot of rebel fighter
7. Tracking shot of rebel gun truck on road heading for frontlines
Benghazi
8. Mid of US Senator John McCain entering news conference
9. Wide pan of McCain speaking at lectern
10. Mid of poster with caption (English) 'God Bless America' in background, behind reporters
11. SOUNDBITE: (English) John McCain, US Senator:
"I would encourage every nation, especially the United States, to recognise the Transitional National Council as the legitimate voice of the Libyan people. They've earned this right (applause from Libyan journalists). They've earned this right and Gadhafi has forfeited it by waging war on his own people."
12. Mid of McCain at lectern
13. SOUNDBITE: (English) John McCain, US Senator:
"I think we have to do a better job of identifying Gadhafi's forces that are in and just outside of Misrata, do a better job of targeting and do a better job of taking them out."
14. Cutaway of reporters
15. SOUNDBITE: (English) John McCain, US Senator:
"I do not believe that ground troops are in order nor would be helpful to the Libyan people in their struggle. I do believe that, as we have in the past, we can help facilitate weapons to get to the hands of the Libyan military, those who are fighting against Gadhafi. We were able to do that in the past."
16. Mid of audience
17. Wide of news conference
STORYLINE
US Senator John McCain on Friday advised against sending in foreign troops to Libya, but called for increased military support for rebels, including weapons, training and close air support, as they battle to oust leader Moammar Gadhafi.
"I do not believe that ground troops are in order or would be helpful to the Libyan people in their struggle," the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee told reporters in the rebel stronghold of Benghazi.
"Americans are war weary, they would not agree with such a thing and nor would I," he added.
McCain instead pressed for arming and training the rebels, as well as protecting civilians in the besieged rebel-held city of Misrata in western Libya.
"I think we have to do a better job of identifying Gadhafi's forces that are in and just outside of Misrata, do a better job of targeting and do a better job of taking them out," he added.
McCain said all nations should "recognise the Transitional National Council as the legitimate voice of the Libyan people," and provide it with appropriate means of assistance, including command and control support, battlefield intelligence, training and weapons.
McCain's visit came a day after the United States started flying armed drones to bolster NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) firepower and try to break a battlefield stalemate with Gadhafi's forces.
The first mission on Thursday had to turn back due to poor weather conditions without firing any of its munitions, a US Marine General said.
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